Konohagakure no Sato -- Sunday Early Evening

[intraspective]

Ino was just glad, all things considered, that the rain wasn't sheeting down on them and the sky was a brilliant red overhead with the sunset--there'd been no way to check that out before coming and umbrella's weren't really used much by, well, ninja.

Or by SOLDIER members, she was pretty sure, considering Zack still... didn't seem to own coat. It was cold, geez.

The forest rustled with the wind and the hard-packed dirt road they were on was clearly well used. Ino grinned over her shoulder at him. "It's just a bit further, and we'll be to the gates. You've got your papers on you, yeah?"

Because if not, they were going to have a problem. And Ino would kick Zack in the shins.

[NFB due to distance, and for the SOLDIER with her!]

Comments

[intraspective]

"Who it might be?" Ino asked, pretty sure she could make a guess about where that was going but...

Ewww.

[puppy_fair]

Zack cracked a lopsided sort of grin, there.

"Remember me telling you about why we wear white capes and carry remedies when going through the woods around Gongaga?"

[intraspective]

"Because of the being turned into frog thing, yeah?" Ino had vaguely hoped that was a joke or something.

Because, really? Frogs?

[puppy_fair]

Really. Frogs.

"Being a frog is only a little more mortifying than being struck with a Mini spell and finding yourself stuck at three inches tall," Zack shared, conversationally.

This was all totally just the norm, back home. Seriously.

[intraspective]

...

"How long are you stuck that way?" Ino asked, blinking at him.

[puppy_fair]

"Until it wears off or you take a Remedy," Zack replied. "Anywhere from a few hours to overnight. Sleeping it off is probably your best bet."

If Zack ever found himself the same size as Mr. Winkles, he'd probably learn first-hand exactly how dangerous the gerbil who was munching on sunflower seeds in his pocket really was.

[intraspective]

"That'd be the best thing ever for a spy though," she said, bouncing at that. "The places you could wriggle into!"

And the number of ways you could die, Ino.

[puppy_fair]

"It'd kinda suck to get stepped on. Or eaten by a cat."

Not that Zack had ever been chased by a cat while stuck in mini status, no. But there were things that people talked about sometimes, okay??

"But so long as you stayed out of the way, I guess it would be awesome for that. And, I mean, it isn't like mini leaves you helpless. You can still cast magic that way, after all. Not like being a frog, where you can't use magic, you can just beat on things."

With wee, teeny froggy fists.

[intraspective]

Ino tilted her head as she thought about that. "Is your magic's strength affected while you're wee and tiny?"

[puppy_fair]

And Zack gave his own head a shake.

"I don't think so, no. But physical attacks are kinda useless, and you're a lot more open to get hurt when you're that small, you know?"

[intraspective]

Ino still looked thoughtful.

Just think of the number of places she'd be able to sneak around in Reno's world if she were that tiny.

"Is it something you can cast yourself? Does it have a materia? Or do you need a monster to cast it on you?"

Ino...

[puppy_fair]

"You... actually want to be that small?" Zack blinked, and then he laughed. He couldn't help it, he had to. "There are a few ways to get that small, yeah. Transform materia will let you cast mini right off the bat, and you can cast that on an enemy or on yourself. And then there are shrivels, which are these one-use items that will do the same thing."

[intraspective]

She laughed.

"Can you blame me? It sounds kinda cool, don't you think? And seriously, it could have so many uses."

[puppy_fair]

"Maybe I'll see if there's anyplace near Midgar where we can pick up some shrivels, then, to play with," Zack mused. "I mean, it can't do any harm, right?"

Unless they got eaten or stepped on?

[intraspective]

If they survived it'd be a story to tell for ages? That time the cat nearly ate them!

She bounced in her seat. "No harm at all," Ino agreed, beaming as the server brought out their order. No natto, because she'd been kinda nice, but plenty else to choose from.

Clearly, she was not to be trusted here, but whatever.

[puppy_fair]

Getting shrivels for Ino could only end in tears. It was true.

In any case, the food smelled amazing, especially to a hungry puppy like Zack, and what the server was bringing to them demanded, quite suddenly, his full, undivided attention.

"Oh," he said, grinning at the dishes, "I'm going to like Konoha."

[intraspective]

It would be awesome!

Just like their food was, once they settled in to eat. In due course, they were done (and no leftovers!) and Ino was bouncing ahead as she led the way down the streets to where her family's shop (and house) was.

"Oh good," she said, grinning up at him as they neared a storefront with a pink sign overhead. "Mom hasn't locked the doors yet. Come on, this way."

[puppy_fair]

"So, this is where you live, huh?" Zack's hands were on his hips as he paused for a moment to take in the sight of the storefront, grinning faintly. "It's bigger than the house I grew up in," he shared.

It was not difficult to live in a building that was bigger than the house in which Zack had grown up. Zack's parents' house had only one room.

[intraspective]

"Well," Ino laughed. "We own the shop and the floor above? So ground floor is where we make a lot of our money, really, since the mortgage was paid off a few years ago. Mom mostly runs it 'cause Dad and I are on missions a lot."

Or, you know, in a different universe going to high school.

[puppy_fair]

Cue Zack, inching forward and trying to peer inside, now.

"What kind of shop is it, anyhow?"

This would someday lead to interesting adventures with a flower cart, no doubt.

[intraspective]

"Flowers," she answered, opening the door with a jingle of bells as she continued, "Welcome to Yamanaka Flowers, Zack."

It was a thing. Florist by day, mind screwing assassins by night.

...or something that didn't sound quite so similar to Weiss Kreuz. Yes.

[puppy_fair]

Hey, there was absolutely nothing the matter with a quartet of very attractive killers who also happened to be good with bouquets, was there?

Zack whistled as he stepped inside, looking around.

"You know," he mused, "I really should swing by the flower shop on the island, sometime. I actually haven't seen flowers since I left home. The're luxury items, in Midgar."

[intraspective]

Well, no, but they weren't exactly how the Yamanaka were. There was nothing secretive about their vocations, after all.

"I've heard that before!" Ino agreed, glancing around for her mom. "And you should totally stop by some time, for sure--Hi--"

That wasn't her mom.

"Hi Dad!"

The blond man leaning against the counter proved very much that, yes, Ino was definitely his daughter. No doubts about that.

[puppy_fair]

"Hi, Ino's dad!" Zack was doomed, wasn't he?

That was not going to stop him from smiling merrily and waving hello, no.

[yamanaka-dad.livejournal.com]

Very very doomed, yes.

For the moment, though, Inoichi laughed as Ino went for a hug. "There are worse titles for me," he said, blue eyes cool despite the amusement in his voice. "But call me Inoichi."

That was, in fact, a warning. Inoichi did not normally let random strangers call him by his first name. Ino just rested her head against his chest for a moment and sighed something that sounded a lot like 'oh Daaaad'.

That was alright, his daughter would just have to deal with it.

"You must be Zack."